“Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky - forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind - and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black and white.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go…”

I started at Teach Away in 2004. My brother Rene and I traveled the globe forging new relationships with education ministries, schools and institutions to learn how we could help them hire better teachers. Now, 13 years later, I’ve been involved in large-scale education reform, helped thousands of teachers find new opportunities overseas - and even dodged tsunami waves in Sri Lanka.

If you’re an educator who’s hungry for an international teaching adventure, you’re in the right place. Our recruitment team is so supportive and helpful because of our own experiences with education overseas. We aim to use our knowledge gained through years in the industry to help you make the most of your teaching career today.

Rene

Co-founder & President

I first fell in love with education and recruitment while working as a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario, where I was in charge of faculty recruitment for lecturer positions within the Business department. Since having three children of my own, my belief - and the driving force behind Teach Away - that every child deserves a quality education has only grown stronger.

Over the past decade at Teach Away, I’ve led recruitment partnerships with government programs and education organizations in over 50 countries around the world, including the UAE Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the Hong Kong Education Bureau and the Korean Ministry of Education. We’ve successfully placed thousands of educators, teaching more than 400,000 students, at some of the top education institutions worldwide. At Teach Away, our team is proud to be at the forefront of the movement for student success on a truly global scale.

David

Commercial Director

I started working with Teach Away in 2012 while living in Vancouver, BC with my wife, Sam. I graduated from the University of Stirling in Scotland with a BA in Business and have managed to build my professional career since then while incorporating another of my passions - travel.

Working at Teach Away affords me the opportunity to visit lots of exciting countries, meet amazing people and experience lots of different cultures (and try out some spectacular golf courses!) One of the best things about working with Teach Away is that no two days are the same. Our recruitment partners include governments, conglomerates, international schools and more - all of which have their own unique needs and challenges which we love building solutions for.

Paula

Director of Marketing

I have always believed that education and travel go hand in hand. Opening your mind and hearts to different cultures, meeting people and witnessing the pure beauty of the big world we live in, really is one of the best learning experience you can ever have. I feel very lucky to be a part of a company that values the fact the world is our classroom (literally) and strives to create a place where every student experiences the power of a great teacher and reaches their full potential because of it.

I've spent my professional career in marketing and advertising, working with various global brands. My passion for education and travel brought me to Teach Away and nothing has made me more proud than to be a part of a talented group of people that are all working hard to find the best teachers and connect them with the best schools, both locally and internationally. I continue to push myself to expand my mind by making a point to go somewhere I've never been every year. Next on my travel bucket list: Tokyo and Thailand.

Matty

Director of Technology

I head up the technology team here at Teach Away - we take care of all of the technical stuff and work tirelessly to ensure the Teach Away site runs smoothly for our teachers. Our team is energetic, dynamic and diverse - we’re spread across several regions and time zones worldwide.

Originally from Albania, I moved to Canada to study Computer Science and Business Administration at Trent University, fell in love with Canada and have since made this amazing country my second home. Travel is one of my life’s passions: a highlight was an incredible backpacking trip through the Balkans after graduation. I’m also a soccer fanatic: last year’s Euro cup, when Albania finally made it to a major soccer tournament, was a dream come true for me.

Gabe

Senior Marketing Manager

I like to think of myself as an honorary teacher. I’ve been surrounded by teachers for most of my adult life and have heard their stories of success, overcoming adversity and making a positive change in the lives of their students. That’s probably what led to me trying my hand as an educator and teaching continuing education courses at Humber College and Seneca College

I have been working in marketing, social media, communications and PR for close to 20 years. Marketing is not a job to me, it’s a passion. My pervious roles have also allowed me the opportunity to discover another passion: travel.

I have been fortunate enough to visit some of the less popular travel destinations, such as Apple Valley, Minnesota, Toluca, Mexico and Regina, Saskatchewan. Experiencing the cultural, lifestyle and historic differences between each place has made me want to learn more about, and visit, locations across the globe.

To sum it up: education + travel = a life fulfilled

Wendy

Director of Finance

As the numbers person at Teach Away, what makes working here so unique is our shared sense of accomplishment - across teams and across borders - in placing so many wonderful educators in awesome jobs around the world. Knowing that what we do here directly impacts children’s education for the better every single day is a huge source of pride for the whole Teach Away team!

Rebecca

Director of Product

My teaching experience started in Australia where I taught for two years. I discovered my love for education but also - like many of my fellow Australians - wanted to travel far north and see what the world had to offer. I moved to Japan to teach pre-kindergarten for a year and loved every minute! Teaching three year olds how to speak English was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. After a year, I decided to make the move to Europe and settled in Paris, coordinating the curriculum program for a language institute. I was lucky enough to be able to travel to so many countries in Europe in my free time. To this day, I still go back every year to explore little areas in Spain, France and Germany. After Japan and Europe, I made the decision not to move back to Australia and to continue my journey abroad instead. So, I moved to Vancouver, Canada! I've been with Teach Away for the past three years and I love helping teachers discover their potential and follow their dreams.

Irma

Senior Account Manager

When I saw a job posting, calling for Ontario-certified teachers at a Canadian curriculum school in China, I immediately sent in my resume and that of my partner to the school. It wasn’t long before we received a phone interview and made one of the most important decisions of our lives - to pack up and leave Canada for China. I had an incredible year teaching and traveling Asia and was fortunate enough to witness the beauty of Thailand, taste the best Hainanese Chicken in Singapore and experience the tranquility of Bali, Indonesia. Now working as a Senior Account Manager for Teach Away, I pride myself daily in being able to help others take a leap into the world of international teaching, to reform education and evolve individually.

Emily

Senior Account Manager

I have been working at Teach Away for 6 years and currently recruit licensed teachers for the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). Before working at Teach Away, I lived in South Korea, where I owned and operated an ESL academy. I enjoy going to the theater, playing guitar and - most of all - travel. I’ve been lucky enough to visit many countries in Asia and Europe, as well as across North America and now spend everyday helping teachers follow their own teach abroad and travel dreams.

Lindsey

Placement Coordinator

Unlike most teachers, teaching was not my initial calling. I’m not sure I was ever predisposed to any particular profession. I decided to become a teacher after volunteering at an elementary school. A friend of mine had recommended that I get in touch with Teach Away, who helped me secure a teaching position with the Abu Dhabi Education Council! While I was in Abu Dhabi, I met my husband and shortly after we were married, we applied to immigrate back to Canada (knowing it was a lengthy process). After 5 years of living in Abu Dhabi, I moved back to Canada, with 6 years of international teaching experience which enriched my professional development and more importantly, my life. The number one reason a teacher should experience teaching abroad is for the overall professional and personal growth experience.

Suzanne

Account Manager

From an early age, education has always been a passion of mine. I was always driven to learn new things and explore new places. At the age of twenty, I took my first trip abroad and fell hook, line and sinker for what became my next passion - travel!

Since then, I have traveled and taught and traveled some more. I've finally found a great place to combine my first two loves at Teach Away. I love helping teachers step out of their comfort zone, explore the world and spread their love of education to hundreds of thousands of students across the globe.

Dave

Placement Coordinator

After graduating from University with a degree in drawing and painting, I wasn't sure about the starving artist lifestyle, so I started teaching English abroad. My experiences in China and South Korea were challenging at times but made me the person I am today. I'm really excited to help our new teachers get started on their adventures abroad and enjoy answering their questions about the expat life.

Layla

Placement Coordinator

Besides eating out, binge watching Korean dramas, or dabbling in creative projects, I’m an avid reader. I would escape into worlds and live vicariously through literature, which instilled a passion in me to know more and see more. I realized that the power of education knows no bounds - it has the ability to change a life. So, I became a teacher.

A chance to teach and travel? To actually live in another country while working in my field and make a difference? It was literally a dream come true for me. I taught overseas in the Middle East where I made expat friends and memories to last me a lifetime. Not to mention in one year alone I traveled to six new countries.

In my life, I strive to leave a mark and have an impact on others - and that is exactly what I get to do every day at Teach Away. It’s great to be on the other side of things, connecting my fellow teachers to opportunities abroad, with a team that truly puts people first.

My advice? Take that leap and teach abroad, like I did. You won’t regret it!

Ailie

Placement Coordinator

Coming from a small village in rainy Scotland, I jumped at the chance to travel abroad to sunnier climes. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to study and work abroad in Spain, France, Italy and Finland! Meeting so many interesting characters along the way, having a deep insight into other cultures and sampling the scrumptious local cuisine were certainly the highlights for me. These experiences came with challenges and rollercoaster rides of emotions which helped me to gain a great deal of perspective and appreciation. I am excited to be working for Teach Away and living in luscious green Scotland again after 11 years overseas. For me, teaching abroad was a truly inspiring and rewarding experience. I love being part of a team that assists teachers to gain the chance to experience such enriching opportunities of their own.

Kevin

Office Coordinator

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by an environment that has fueled my sense of adventure and passion for the outdoors. I love to test myself both mentally and physically, whether it is a challenging multi-day hike or taking on a difficult task that forces me out of my comfort zone.

I discovered my love for travel during my undergrad, when I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Vienna, Austria. Living in Central Europe I conveniently traveled around the continent to vastly different cities, each with their own unique culture. Coming home to finish my degree I had a different outlook on how I wanted to live my life, shaped by my time abroad.

Here at Teach Away I’m honored to be surrounded by a highly knowledgeable team that is truly enthusiastic about education and international experience. Empowering our educators to follow a path that is exciting and different is an incredibly rewarding experience that I am very passionate about.

Lloyd

Education Partnerships Manager

With a passion for languages running deep from my early childhood spent in the Middle East, I jumped at the chance to move to Brazil to teach English. Upon my return to the UK, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the field of international education.

Having supported educational institutions with their recruitment goals for over four years, I'm very happy to be a part of the exciting team at Teach Away, working with a group of people who share my passion for education.

Alex

Education Partnerships Executive

Having grown up in Vancouver, Canada, I made the life-changing decision to study abroad for university, where my enduring love of travel and desire to immerse myself in new cultures first took root. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Law from Bond University, Australia and was lucky enough to spend my summers exploring new countries all over the globe. Since then, the urge to travel has never left me. More recently, I built a motorcycle from scratch to take me one step closer to my dream of exploring the world on two wheels.

My role at Teach Away combines my three passions in life: technology, adventure and education. Central to my work in supporting progressive international schools and government organizations is my belief that every student deserves a great teacher.

Sara

Education Partnerships Executive

The gorgeous city of Edinburgh is where I was born and now call home . H ow ever, I grew up in the Middle East and Europe which exposed me to a diverse range of education systems and cultures at an early age. This ignited my interest in education and the exciting and the ever-changing challenges that are faced every day in classrooms across the globe.

I consider myself to be a creative and passionate person with a great enthusiasm for trying new things and meeting new people. I studied fine arts and painting at university, later qualifying as a teacher. This allowed me to apply my background in the arts to deliver a variety of subjects across the curriculum. I am fascinated and excited by the endless possibilities that new technologies bring to education.

A quality education unlocks doors that money cannot buy and being a part of the Teach Away team brings together my love of education and sales as part of an ever-evolving company at the forefront of the education recruitment sector.

Ellie

Client Success Manager

I completed my degree in International Relations in Toronto where I grew up, and had a serious case of wanderlust. I traveled Europe extensively over a decade and fulfilled a lifelong dream of volunteering in East Africa. I’m passionate about world history and love learning about other cultures. I’ve just made my first big move abroad to Edinburgh and am spending every spare minute exploring this beautiful city with my golden retriever, Summer.

Working 15 years in food service and retail operations, my career has been focused on customer satisfaction and process improvement. Working with the awesome team at Teach Away allows me to apply my extensive service and technical experience to the exciting world of education, connecting schools with teachers and making professional and educational opportunities more accessible to students around the globe.

Casey

Education Partnerships Manager

My name is Casey and I’m known as the "crazy cat lady" to many of my coworkers in the Teach Away office because I love everything about my little furry feline friends. I don't own a cat, but I have dreams, and that is definitely top of the list!

After studying at Western University I started my career at Canadian LMS company, D2L, and fell in love with online learning and the power of educational technology. I've been working in business development since 2013 and couldn't be happier to be part of the Teach Away team. I’m continually inspired and challenged to connect with people and companies to find innovative ways to help each other.

Erin

Education Partnership Executive

I have always loved to travel, so when my parents announced we were moving from Scotland to Zurich, Switzerland when I was 17 years old, it was a no-brainer - or, as my mum says, "there’s no show without punch".

During my time in Zurich, I was introduced to the international schools system. I loved the fact that my teachers and peers were from different countries and cultural backgrounds and made friends for life who now live all over the world.

As a member of the Education Partnership Team at Teach Away, I am at the forefront of connecting schools and organizations with innovative recruitment solutions and great quality candidates. I am over the moon to be a part of the team and working as a collective to improve education on a global scale.

Elspeth

TEFL Online Course Coordinator

I had often dreamed of moving to France, but I never imagined that this dream would become reality until it did when I became a TEFL certified English teacher in Paris. I learned as much from the students I taught as they did from me. It fuelled my passion for education and ignited a lifelong love of travel.

The experience of working and living in a foreign place was one that shaped me in ways I had never imagined. It inspires a confidence that you carry with you always and everywhere. Put simply, teaching English abroad is always a good idea!

Kathy

Content Marketing Lead

I’m in the minority among my Teach Away colleagues in that I’ve never taught abroad - hearing their incredible stories makes me realize what I missed out on!

Having grown up in a little town in the south of Ireland, I’ve always wanted to explore the world. After graduating with my MA in English lit, I decided to take the plunge and move to Canada - in the depths of one of the coldest winters on record. Thankfully it didn’t put me off this amazing country. I’m still here almost six years down the road! So far in my life, I’ve been fortunate enough to live and travel around amazing spots in Europe, North America and Asia. Watch this space - I’m planning on hitting up the remaining continents by 2020!

I’ve found myself in the marketing world in a roundabout way: I got my start in magazine journalism and book publishing before landing at Teach Away, where I now work as a copywriter and content creator. I’ve had a passion for writing and travel all my life - and I’m also my friends’ resident spell checker, so this is pretty much the perfect job for me. Education is the common thread throughout my career. That’s what’s so great about being a part of Teach Away - our team’s shared passion for helping as many teachers start their incredible adventures abroad shines through each and every day.

Alex

Graphic Designer

Having graduated from Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu, Romania, my wife and I decided to make the move to Toronto, Canada three years ago. I’m an avid photographer - telling stories and capturing memories through photography is a special kind of magic for me.

After photography, traveling is my biggest passion. In my life so far, my travels have taken me all over Europe, including Austria, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Ireland, France and England. My favorite place in the world remains my home country of Romania - it’s the closest to my soul. I’m planning a visit to Machu Pichu at some point in the future - maybe when my newborn son is old enough to keep up with all the hiking!

Rachael

Marketing Specialist

While I have never had the privilege of teaching abroad I am lucky enough to have lived in two countries as I was born in England and grew up there until my family immigrated to Canada in my early teens. After living on Vancouver Island since my arrival in Canada I made the decision to move to Toronto upon completion of my degree.

My family is spread out all over the world, which can be both a blessing and a curse. While I may not get to see them as often as I would like, visiting my family members has taken me to some amazing places such as Los Angeles and the British Virgin Islands. I’ve also had the privilege of travelling to some other great destinations, my favourite being Barcelona.

Between my educational background in marketing and my passion for education, my position as Marketing Specialist at Teach Away is the perfect fit! I firmly believe that while we all come from different walks of life, everyone has the right to an education and deserves a great teacher.

Doug

B2B Marketing Specialist

Before coming to Teach Away, I worked on the marketing team at one of the world’s leading educational publishers for over 10 years. Education is very important to me, so I was proud of the small role I played in putting high-quality resources into the hands of educators and students.

At Teach Away, I'm excited to help international schools around the world connect with world-class educators, ensuring students around the world have the opportunity to receive the best education possible.

Like most of the team, I have a passion for travel. I consider myself fortunate to have visited many countries around the world - Vietnam, Indonesia, Nicaragua and the UK among my favorites - and am always eager to embark on my next journey.

Graeme

Tutoring Team Lead

After graduating from university, I taught and lived in Australia, England and South Korea. These opportunities allowed me to meet new friends, explore new lands and create tons of new memories. Now, as a Placement Coordinator at Teach Away, I am fortunate enough to get to help other educators pursue their own dreams of teaching abroad every day.

Outside of work you can find me playing, watching and reading about pretty much any sport that has ever existed (although my two favourites are basketball and soccer). Other hobbies of mine include endless Wiki-spirals on Wikipedia, cooking and eating every food imaginable and relaxing anywhere the sun is shining.

Elaine

Recruitment Manager

Born and raised in Ireland, I moved to Toronto a couple years ago and joined the Teach Away family shortly after. I am a lover of live music, good food and exploring the great outdoors. I absolutely love traveling and jump at any opportunity to meet new people and try new things. Of the places I’ve traveled to, my absolute favorite was Malta - a small country in Europe with fascinating history and incredible scuba diving. Since moving to Toronto and working with Teach Away, I feel so lucky to work with such hilarious, amazing and like-minded people. Supporting our teachers on their own overseas journey and sharing our passion for travel are just two of the many reasons I love what I do

Henry

User Experience Designer

It has always been a dream of mine to work with awesome people and to design products that can impact hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of people in the world. This is exactly what we do every day at Teach Away. We make quality education accessible by bringing thousands of teachers to countries where there are millions of students with a thirst for knowledge.

I truly believe traveling is one of the best forms of education the world has to offer. Though travel, we’re exposed to diverse types of art, culture and people. We’re not trapped in our own little knowledge bubble. By living in this global village, we can all become more well-rounded human beings.

Besides working as a designer, I’m also a part-time teacher at my local church, a Muay Thai kickboxer and a heavy caffeine addict. Drop by and have an espresso with us :)

Sarah

Learning Experience Design Manager

The journey that brought me to Teach Away's Digital Learning team has been a long and exciting one. I first started teaching ELL in South Korea for four years and went onto teaching in the United Kingdom for three more. There's no other field where you're consistently learning something new every day, or one that can take you just about anywhere in the world, than education.

As a part of the Digital Learning team at Teach Away, I'm privileged to work with an amazingly creative team producing learning that reaches all corners of the earth.

Katherine

Instructional Designer/Client Support Manager

My name is Katherine and while my coworker Casey might say she's the crazy cat lady of our Vancouver office, I'm definitely the crazy cat lady of the Toronto office!

After completing my master’s degree in English at McMaster University, where I also worked as a teaching assistant, I realized how much I enjoyed teaching. While I'm not a certified teacher, I love education and here at Teach Away, I'm able to turn that love into a job where I work on creating custom elearning courses for students around the globe.

When I'm not working on new digital learning projects at Teach Away, you'll find me at home reading feminist literature with my cats or working as a PA and set designer on my wife's films.

Pinky

Client Success Coordinator

I grew up and studied in Canada. After graduating from university with a degree in music, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone (my parents!) and make the big move back to Hong Kong, the city where I was born.

During my time in Hong Kong, I worked in different academic institutions and had lots of opportunities to interact closely with both students and teachers. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the Chinese education system and the passion that teachers have for their profession.

Here at Teach Away, I’ve been given the opportunity to work closely within the Chinese education market and to pursue my interest in the growing field of digital learning. When you drop by Teach Away office, come and say “ni hao” to me!

Laura

Learning Experience Design Manager

My adventures in education began when I left home to teach English in South Korea. I was absolutely terrified to leave, but I loved the experience and learned that I was capable of facing challenges and accomplishing what I put my mind to.

When I returned home, I worked in educational publishing for five years, creating print and online resources for the classroom. Now at Teach Away, I build digital learning to support people in their personal and professional development. I love that I'm constantly learning about different subjects and fields, and always have to keep up with the latest in educational trends and technology.

Celina

User Experience Designer

Toronto born and raised! After graduating from OCAD University and dabbling in both graphic design and hospitality, I discovered my true passion- creating engaging and delightful user experiences. Surprisingly, a great user experience is not unlike a great guest experience!

Outside of office hours I love exploring new eats, playing soccer with Teach Away FC (you should join!), giving my rescue cat chin rubs, and pursuing the recommended 10,000 steps per day (pretty much convinced it's not actually possible).

Alvy

Copywriter

I’m originally from Ireland and have always considered myself a writer. I was the eight year old that wrote awful plays and bribed my younger siblings to perform them. I later studied writing at MA level in the National University of Ireland so that other people would start calling me a writer too.

By day I write about the magic of teaching abroad and by night I scribble novels and poetry. If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, running or face-deep in a cake. At Teach Away, I want my writing to inspire great teachers to travel the world and find new students in exciting places.

Before joining Teach Away, I spent a year in rural South Korea teaching English. I truly believe teaching abroad changes you from the inside out. In my case, there's the obvious addition of a million freckles to my pale Irish skin and the less obvious changes like an ability to mime almost anything and be fully understood i.e. the ability to communicate in ANY language.

Elian

Web Developer

I was born in sunny Albania and after living in Italy for seven years, I decided to move back to Tirana in Albania, which was in the midst of a massive tech boom. I’ve been at Teach Away for almost four years now, helping the team solve tech issues.

Leni

Web Developer

What started as a side hobby for me is now my full-time job. I began my career as an electronic engineer - now I’m a web developer here at Teach Away! What I love most about Teach Away is our drive. We’re tirelessly committed to connecting teachers with their dream jobs - wherever in the world they might be.

The best place I’ve been so far in my lifetime? Definitely France - the people are welcoming and the architecture is hard to beat! The best food I’ve ever eaten was in Istanbul. I firmly believe that the best is yet to come - next up on my radar is Japan. I’m excited to experience the calm oasis and tranquility of a Japanese garden - and to try some delicious Japanese street food.

Jani

Webmaster

As a Electronic Engineering student, I’ve just recently begun my professional and personal journey. I love getting to work with a group of talented and inspiring people as part of a team that changes the lives of teachers and students in every corner of the world.

I was born and raised in Albania but I have big plans to see the world. My time in Greece has been my most memorable travel destination: Andros Island and Meteora were by far my favorite spots to visit. The US, Canada and Brazil are next up on my list of countries to see.

Rando

Front End Developer

Although I’m originally from Albania, I’ve lived most of my life in Greece. After finishing up my studies in computer technology at Lamia University, my wife and I decided to make the move back to our home country, where I started working at Teach Away as a front end developer.

Being a part of the Teach Away team is a surefire way to get bitten by the travel bug - I haven’t ventured further than Europe just yet, but I’ve been busy compiling a long list of places I’m hoping to travel to over the next while. Life’s too short to stay put and I plan on seeing as much of this beautiful world as I possibly can!

Elio

Back End Developer

I got hooked on video games when I was only six years old. Since then, the question that stuck in my mind was: “How are they built?”

That’s what got me into programming in the first place. It started as a hobby and now has became my dream job. Things change fast in the tech world but I’m lucky to work with a great group of talented people who genuinely care about solving problems, making a difference and helping others be more successful.

Keit

QA Tester

Right after graduating with my degree in computer engineering, I landed my first “grown-up” job with Teach Away as a QA Tester. I feel so inspired to be part of a team of energetic, amazing people who work tirelessly to help teachers discover their potential and follow their dreams of teaching abroad every day.

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

Shaban

Front End Developer

Teaching is among the noblest professions. Teachers make us who we are. At Teach Away, it’s our privilege to work to improve educational outcomes all around the world so we can help ensure a bright future for the next generation.

As a Front End Developer at Teach Away, I get to be a part of a highly-motivated, fast-moving and incredibly collaborative technology team. One of my biggest aims outside of work is to slowly but surely work through my travel bucket list, one country at a time!